4 ms·
Wait, is that how viruses work? Is a parent guaranteed to pass on viral illness to their children (genetically) then?
by aqfamnzc 2y ago
Wait, is that how viruses work? Is a parent guaranteed to pass on viral illness to their children (genetically) then?
- code_biologist 2y agoOnly some viruses work this way, HIV is an example. This is a good article on endogenous retroviruses [1], that is viruses that work by integrating themselves into host DNA (a retrovirus) and made it into germline cells (eggs and sperm, the endogenous part). [1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230519-the-viruses-that-helped-to-make-you-human https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230519-the-viruses-that...
- dillydogg 2y agoAnd to clarify for those reading this, HIV is not passed from mom to baby via inhereted genome, but as a blood borne illness in pregnancy, during birth, or in breastmilk.
- dillydogg 2y agoThe cells infected by these viruses don't form the sperm and eggs, so no. But a great portion of our genomes is thought to come from old viruses (which actually may be used immunologically!) https://www.science.org/content/article/viral-fossils-our-dna-may-help-us-fight-infection https://www.science.org/content/article/viral-fossils-our-dn...
- idunnoman1222 2y agoOnly if it’s in your balls